The Advocate and Democrat

The Tellico Plains Bears opened more than a few eyes with their play on Friday night as the team tied Region 2-2A power Loudon 0-0 in the final quarter of the Loudon Jamboree.

The tie comes one year after Loudon beat the Bears 16-0, including running a trick play in the closing moments of the quarter to give the Redskins’ their final score.

But the Bears stopped everything Loudon threw at them this year, and one final stop at the end of the game by Tellico gave the team the tie.

The Bears started slowly, taking the opening drive of the quarter on offense but gaining zero yards.

Deion O’Dell and Joe Snyder were stuffed and Cody Atkins pass sailed incomplete, forcing the Bears to punt.

The Bears defense, which stood out in Tellico’s only preseason scrimmage the week before, stuffed Loudon on its first offensive series and forced a punt.

Taking over on its own 10 yard line, the Bears got out of the shadow of the goalposts when O’Dell completed a 30-yard pass to Donovan McKenzie on third-and-10 to kick-start the Tellico offense.

Following an offside penalty on Loudon, the Bears continued to move the ball with big runs by Atkins and O’Dell.

After reaching the Loudon 25, the Tellico drive stalled and a pass intended for McKenzie on fourth-and nine turned the ball over on downs with 4:14 remaining.

The Redskins weren’t done, though, as Loudon marched down the field looking to score the winning points.

Loudon completed a pass down to the Tellico 10 yard line with 19 seconds remaining.

Tellico stuffed a run by the Loudon quarterback, and the Redskins, without any timeouts, could not stop the clock quick enough to attempt a field goal and the Bears hung on for the tie.

O’Dell led the Bears with 20 yards on two carries while Snyder gained six yards on two carries.

Atkins also ran for 15 yards on two carries and was 0-for-4 passing.

O’Dell completed the only Tellico pass to McKenzie for 30 yards.

John Sloan ran one time for one yard.

The Bears will turn their attention to next week’s season opener at home against perennial power Gatlinburg-Pittman.

The Highlanders, who were 11-2 last year while making the Class 2A quarterfinals before falling to Alcoa, beat the Bears 55-13 last season.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Subscribe to The Advocate and Democrat by clicking SUBSCRIBE. Sign up for Breaking News emails from The Advocate and Democrat by clicking EMAIL ALERTS and inputting your email address next to "Add Me" near the top right corner.